Abstract: An unloading valve for use in evacuating fluids from a wellbore annulus. The unloading valve can include a valve body, an intake to the valve body, a discharge from the valve body, and an induced pressure differential valve control system configured to automatically close the intake to the valve body in response to a change in the density of fluids passing through the unloading valve. In some embodiments, the induced pressure differential valve control system includes a flow sleeve, a valve element, a draw tube and a biasing spring. The flow sleeve includes a flow constriction that produces a pressure differential (AP) as the fluids pass through the flow sleeve that is communicated by the draw tube to the valve element. The biasing spring is configured to urge the valve element into a closed position when the pressure differential (AP) falls below a threshold value.

Abstract: A side pocket mandrel for use in a gas lift system includes a primary flow bore that is linearly aligned with the primary longitudinal axis of the production tubing. The side pocket mandrel also includes valve pocket that is laterally offset from the primary flow bore, where the valve pocket includes a port that extends through the side pocket mandrel to the annular space (annulus) to place the interior of the valve pocket in fluid communication with the annulus. To prevent the unintended passage of fluids from the interior of the side pocket mandrel to the annulus through the valve pocket and port, the side pocket mandrel includes an integrated check valve within the port that permits the flow of fluids from the annuls into the side pocket mandrel, while preventing the passage of fluids from the side pocket mandrel to the annulus.

Abstract: A side pocket mandrel for use in a gas lift system is configured to improve the recovery of petroleum fluids from a well, where the gas lift system is surrounded by an annular space within the well. The side pocket mandrel includes a central bore extending through the side pocket mandrel, a side pocket tube laterally offset from the central bore, a port that extends from the side pocket tube to the annular space, and a single actuation valve installed on the port. The single actuation valve prevents the passage of the petroleum fluids from the annular space into the side pocket tube until a high threshold pressure in the annular space is reached and then the pressure in the annular space is reduced so to a low threshold pressure.

Abstract: A side pocket mandrel for use within a gas lift system has a central body that includes a central bore and a valve pocket that is offset from the central body. The valve pocket includes a power landing in the valve pocket and configured to provide an electrical connection to the electric gas lift valve and a conductor connected to the power landing and configured to provide electric power to the power landing. The side pocket mandrel further includes a pneumatic gas lift valve installed within the valve pocket and an electric gas lift valve installed within the valve pocket. The electric gas lift valve and pneumatic gas lift valve can be installed or retrieved from the valve pocket using wireline-based tools without removing the side pocket mandrel from the well.

Abstract: A side pocket mandrel is configured for use within a gas lift system deployed in a well that has an annular space surrounding the gas lift system. The side pocket mandrel includes a central body that includes a central bore, a gas lift valve pocket, and a gas lift valve installed within the gas lift valve pocket. The side pocket mandrel may also include a motorized choke valve assembly to selectively cover some or all of an internal tubing port extending between the central bore and the gas lift valve pocket. The side pocket mandrel may also include an automatic closing valve assembly configured to automatically close the gas lift valve port when the gas lift valve is removed from the side pocket mandrel.

Abstract: A side pocket mandrel for use in a gas lift system is configured to improve the recovery of petroleum fluids from a well, where the gas lift system is surrounded by an annular space within the well. The side pocket mandrel includes a central bore extending through the side pocket mandrel, a side pocket tube laterally offset from the central bore, a port that extends from the side pocket tube to the annular space, and a single actuation valve installed on the port. The single actuation valve prevents the passage of the petroleum fluids from the annular space into the side pocket tube until a high threshold pressure in the annular space is reached and then the pressure in the annular space is reduced so to a low threshold pressure.

Abstract: A side pocket mandrel for use in a gas lift system is configured to improve the recovery of petroleum fluids from a well. The side pocket mandrel includes an upper assembly joint, a lower assembly joint, and a central portion that has a total length (LT). The side pocket mandrel further comprises a central bore extending through the side pocket mandrel along a central longitudinal axis that extends through the upper and lower assembly joints. The side pocket mandrel further includes a tool channel offset from the central bore and a side pocket tube linearly aligned with the tool channel and configured to receive a gas lift valve. The side pocket mandrel further includes a pair of primary flow blocks that each have a length (LFa) that is at least 35% of the total length (LT) of the central portion of the side pocket mandrel.

Abstract: A frangible disk sub including a housing, a break mechanism disposed in the housing a carrier movably disposed in the housing, a frangible disk supported by the carrier and movable with the carrier into contact with the break mechanism, and a release mechanism restraining movement of the carrier until a threshold load is exceeded. A method for rupturing a frangible disk including exceeding a threshold load with on the sub, releasing the release mechanism, moving the carrier and the frangible disk toward and into contact with the break mechanism, and rupturing the frangible disk with the break mechanism. A borehole system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string in the borehole, and a frangible disk sub disposed within or as a part of the string.

Abstract: A side pocket mandrel is configured for use within a gas lift system deployed in a well that has an annular space surrounding the gas lift system. The side pocket mandrel includes a central body that includes a central bore, a gas lift valve pocket, and a gas lift valve installed within the gas lift valve pocket. The side pocket mandrel may also include a motorized choke valve assembly to selectively cover some or all of an internal tubing port extending between the central bore and the gas lift valve pocket. The side pocket mandrel may also include an automatic closing valve assembly configured to automatically close the gas lift valve port when the gas lift valve is removed from the side pocket mandrel.

Abstract: A side pocket mandrel for use within a gas lift system has a central body that includes a central bore and a valve pocket that is offset from the central body. The valve pocket includes a power landing in the valve pocket and configured to provide an electrical connection to the electric gas lift valve and a conductor connected to the power landing and configured to provide electric power to the power landing. The side pocket mandrel further includes a pneumatic gas lift valve installed within the valve pocket and an electric gas lift valve installed within the valve pocket. The electric gas lift valve and pneumatic gas lift valve can be installed or retrieved from the valve pocket using wireline-based tools without removing the side pocket mandrel from the well.

Abstract: A gas lift system improves the recovery of petroleum fluids from a well to the surface through production tubing. The gas lift system has a packer and a lower injection mandrel connected to the production tubing below the packer. The gas lift system further includes a gas lift module connected to the production tubing above the packer, and an injection line that carries pressurized gas from the surface to both the lower injection mandrel and the gas lift module. An upper injection line valve assembly is configured to provide a source of pressurized gas from the injection line to the gas lift module, while an injection line gas lift valve assembly is configured to provide a source of pressurized gas from the injection line to the lower injection mandrel.

Abstract: A frangible disk sub including a housing, a break mechanism disposed in the housing a carrier movably disposed in the housing, a frangible disk supported by the carrier and movable with the carrier into contact with the break mechanism, and a release mechanism restraining movement of the carrier until a threshold load is exceeded. A method for rupturing a frangible disk including exceeding a threshold load with on the sub, releasing the release mechanism, moving the carrier and the frangible disk toward and into contact with the break mechanism, and rupturing the frangible disk with the break mechanism. A borehole system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string in the borehole, and a frangible disk sub disposed within or as a part of the string.

Abstract: In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a process for manufacturing a side pocket mandrel that involves welding upper and lower swages to a central body of the side pocket mandrel. In some embodiments, the process includes the steps of providing a first side of the welded joint and a second side of the welded joint, where the first and second sides are either the central body or the swage. The process continues with the step of approximating the first and second sides such that the first and second sides are in contact. Importantly, the first and second sides are brought together without creating a root gap between the first and second sides. Next, the first and second sides are welded together to form the welded joint between the swage and the central body.

Abstract: A side pocket mandrel for use in a gas lift system is configured to improve the recovery of petroleum fluids from a well. The side pocket mandrel includes an upper assembly joint, a lower assembly joint, and a central portion that has a total length (LT). The side pocket mandrel further comprises a central bore extending through the side pocket mandrel along a central longitudinal axis that extends through the upper and lower assembly joints. The side pocket mandrel further includes a tool channel offset from the central bore and a side pocket tube linearly aligned with the tool channel and configured to receive a gas lift valve. The side pocket mandrel further includes a pair of primary flow blocks that each have a length (LFa) that is at least 35% of the total length (LT) of the central portion of the side pocket mandrel.

Abstract: A side pocket mandrel for use in a gas lift system includes a primary flow bore that is linearly aligned with the primary longitudinal axis of the production tubing. The side pocket mandrel also includes valve pocket that is laterally offset from the primary flow bore, where the valve pocket includes a port that extends through the side pocket mandrel to the annular space (annulus) to place the interior of the valve pocket in fluid communication with the annulus. To prevent the unintended passage of fluids from the interior of the side pocket mandrel to the annulus through the valve pocket and port, the side pocket mandrel includes an integrated check valve within the port that permits the flow of fluids from the annuls into the side pocket mandrel, while preventing the passage of fluids from the side pocket mandrel to the annulus.

Abstract: A side pocket mandrel for use in a gas lift system is configured to improve the recovery of petroleum fluids from a well. The side pocket mandrel includes an upper assembly joint, a lower assembly joint, and a central portion that has a total length (LT). The side pocket mandrel further comprises a central bore extending through the side pocket mandrel along a central longitudinal axis that extends through the upper and lower assembly joints. The side pocket mandrel further includes a tool channel offset from the central bore and a side pocket tube linearly aligned with the tool channel and configured to receive a gas lift valve. The side pocket mandrel further includes a pair of primary flow blocks that each have a length (LFa) that is at least 35% of the total length (LT) of the central portion of the side pocket mandrel.

Abstract: In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a process for manufacturing a side pocket mandrel that involves welding upper and lower swages to a central body of the side pocket mandrel. In some embodiments, the process includes the steps of providing a first side of the welded joint and a second side of the welded joint, where the first and second sides are either the central body or the swage. The process continues with the step of approximating the first and second sides such that the first and second sides are in contact. Importantly, the first and second sides are brought together without creating a root gap between the first and second sides. Next, the first and second sides are welded together to form the welded joint between the swage and the central body.

Abstract: A side pocket mandrel is configured for use within a gas lift system deployed in a well that has an annular space surrounding the gas lift system. The side pocket mandrel includes a central body that includes a central bore, a gas lift valve pocket, and a gas lift valve installed within the gas lift valve pocket. The side pocket mandrel may also include a motorized choke valve assembly to selectively cover some or all of an internal tubing port extending between the central bore and the gas lift valve pocket. The side pocket mandrel may also include an automatic closing valve assembly configured to automatically close the gas lift valve port when the gas lift valve is removed from the side pocket mandrel.

Abstract: A side pocket mandrel for use within a gas lift system is configured to permit the exchange of valve pockets. The side pocket mandrel has a central body, a receiver that is laterally offset from the central body, and a valve pocket that is removably secured to the receiver. The valve pocket can be configured for a threaded connection with the receiver to permit the facilitated exchange of modular valve pockets at the receiver. Gas from the valve pocket can be carried to the central body of the side pocket mandrel through one or more external gas lines or one or more internal gas injection passages.

Abstract: For a side pocket mandrel that has a primary flow bore and an offset side pocket, a method for installing a guide sleeve begins with the step of compressing the guide sleeve to reduce an outer diameter of the guide sleeve. The method continues with the step of inserting the guide sleeve into a section of the primary flow bore that has a first inner diameter (D1). The method continues with the steps of allowing the guide sleeve to radially expand such that the outer diameter of the guide sleeve matches the first diameter, pushing the guide sleeve further into the primary flow bore to a guide sleeve section that has a second inner diameter (D2) that is larger than the first inner diameter (D1), and allowing the guide sleeve to radially expand to capture the guide sleeve within the guide sleeve section of the primary flow bore.